Accessory

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to an accessory ( 1 ) comprising at least two end bands ( 2,3 ) which are connected with at least one connecting band ( 4 ), and where said end bands ( 2,3 ) and/or said connecting band ( 4 ) are provided with one or more of the following: means for decoration, means for elongating/shortening said connection band ( 4 ), means for treatment, and/or means for measuring.

SCOPE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an accessory comprising at least twoend bands which are connected with at least one connecting band.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

To enhance the appealing appearance of persons having long hair, mostlywomen and children, or to protect or to manage long hair, it is commonto arrange long hair in different hair styles, for example pigtail,ponytail or high-piled hair.

After hair styling, it may be necessary to use different kinds ofaccessories such as end bands, hair straps, hair pins or the like, inorder to maintain the desired hair style.

For example U.S. Pat. No. 6,601,590 describes a hair strap with a numberof hair loops, which is used for creating a hair style that combines aponytail with high-piled hair.

For example US-A1-2003/0200981 describes a large semicircle-formed endband with a number of small removable end bands attached, whichsemicircle-formed end band is used for creating a hair style with manysmaller ponytails.

For example U.S. Pat. No. 5,833,335 describes a hair slide used forcreating advanced high-piled hair styles, and where it is possible toconnect a number of hair slides.

For example U.S. Pat. No. 5,727,574 describes a method and an apparatusfor braiding hair, and where the apparatus comprises two ties, which areconnected with a connecting member, and where it is possible to braidthe connecting member into a braided ponytail, hence providing adecorative hair style.

Furthermore different types of accessories are available which combinethe features of creating a hair style and then maintaining the desiredhair style.

Persons wanting a hair style with only one ponytail or pigtail often usean elastic end band which is wrapped tightly around a base portion ofthe person's hair, whereby the lose ends of the hair portion forms theponytail or pigtail.

Persons having thin and/or light hair and who use elastic end bands mayexperience problems using an elastic end band to maintain theponytail/pigtail, because the elastic end band will slowly slide off theponytail/pigtail. This may be a source of irritation, and it istime-consuming to redo the hair; furthermore there is a risk of losingthe end band.

A slightly more advanced hair style with more than one ponytail requiresthe use of several end bands and with them the aforementioneddisadvantages.

All the aforementioned accessories are only described as used forproviding simple and different kinds of hair styles.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide anaccessory usable for different purposes, for example:

-   -   an end band for making different hair styles, which is easy to        use, reduces the risk of the end band sliding off, and allows        different hair styles,    -   an end band for treating/preventing lice or fleas,    -   a shoe lace for enhancing the appearance of the shoe, which is        easy to lace and tie,    -   a lace for clothing for enhancing the appearance of the        clothing, which is decorative and easy to lace and tie.

This is obtained with an accessory described in the preamble of claim 1,wherein said end bands and/or said connecting band are provided with oneor more of the following: means for decoration, means forelongating/shortening said connection band, means for treatment, and/ormeans for measuring.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following description the preferred use of the accessoryaccording to the present invention is the use of it as an end band;however, with slight or no alteration, the same kind of accessory can beused as a shoe lace or a lace for clothing.

In the following description of the present invention and the use of it,the term “hair tail” will be used to refer to either a ponytail or apigtail.

The accessory according to the present invention has an array ofdifferent configurations where the basic principle is having two endbands connected with a connection band that is common to all theconfigurations.

For example the accessory may have:

-   -   two end bands connected with one connection band    -   three end bands connected with two connection bands    -   three end bands connected with three connection bands    -   etc.

To prevent the end band of the accessory according to the presentinvention to slide off a hair tail, one of the elastic end bands iswrapped tightly around a base portion of the person's hair whereby thelose ends of the hair portion form the hair tail, and the other endbands can also be wrapped around this hair tail.

For example if an accessory is used that has two end bands connectedwith one connection band, the first elastic end band will not easilyslide down the hair tail because the second elastic end band is in theway; and because the two elastic end bands are connected with aconnecting piece, the second elastic end band cannot slide off the ponytail.

To make it possible to create a hair style with more than one hair tailby using the accessory according to present invention, said accessorycomprises at least two elastic end bands connected with at least oneconnecting band. This allows making one hair tail with one of theelastic end bands and a second hair tail with the other end band(s).

Said second hair tail can be positioned over or under or to either sideof said first hair tail, depending on the wanted hair style, butgenerally, if said first hair tail is a pony tail, said second pony tailwill be positioned above under said first pony tail, and the connectingpiece can be arranged around said first pony tail in order to eitherhide said connecting piece or to use the connecting piece to guide saidfirst pony tail and/or decorate said first pony tail.

Said two elastic end bands are prevented from sliding off saidrespective pony tails, because they are connected by said connectingpiece. Said first elastic end band cannot slide off because of saidconnecting piece linking it to said second elastic end band, and saidsecond elastic end band cannot slide off because said connecting pieceis either wrapped around said second pony tail, and it will therefore bein the way, or said elastic end bands will have different slidingmotions and therefore one of the elastic end bands will always preventthe sliding off of the other elastic end band.

If said first hair tail is a pigtail, said second hair tail willtypically be a pigtail positioned at the other side of the persons headand the connecting band can be arranged around the person's forehead orback head.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention said accessorycomprises at least two end bands which are connected with at least oneconnecting band, and where said means for elongating/shortening saidconnection band are provided with one or more of the following:

-   -   means for decoration,    -   means for elongating/shortening said connection band,    -   means for treatment, and/or    -   means for measuring.

To enhance the look of the hair style said connecting band and/or endbands could be used as decoration elements or for the attachment ofdifferent decorations, hence said at least one connecting band and/or atleast two end bands are provided with means for decoration.

Said means for decoration can be small parts of said connecting band/endbands where it is possible to attach for example brooches, flowers,pearls, figures in any colour, spangles, jewelry, stones, charms, and/orlight diodes. These items can be attached using for example Velcro, snapfasteners or buttons/holes.

Alternatively, said means for decoration can be an integrated part ofsaid connecting band/end band for example in the form of colourpatterns, fixed pearls, printed/sewn/knitted designs or print and thelike.

In an embodiment of the invention said at least one connecting bandcomprises means for longitudinal adjustment of said connecting band,which makes it possible to either arrange the end bands in predeterminedpositions and always with the same distance, or to arrange the end bandsin different positions and then change the hair style.

Said means for elongating/shortening said connection band are one of thefollowing:

-   -   a two-part connecting band with interlocking Velcro pads,    -   a string which can be shortened by wrapping it further around        the end band and be extended by unwrapping said string from said        end band,    -   a double string with a slider arrangement, whereby movement of a        slider will increase or decrease the length, and    -   a ring-shaped connecting band with snap fasteners/clasps or        buttons/holes.

All the above means for longitudinal adjustment allow said accessoryaccording to the present invention to be used by any person,irrespective of hair length and hair thickness, head size etc. of theperson because the connecting band can be adjusted to allow for theaforementioned differences.

In another embodiment of the present invention said means for treatmentare one or more of the following:

-   -   pellets/powder containing a medical agent,    -   pellets/powder containing a preventive agent, and/or    -   pellets/powder containing a insect repellent agent.

It is then possible to use the accessory to control for example lice,nits, and fleas in a person's hair, treat a skin condition of the head,and/or limit dandruff by treating said connection and/or said end bandswith a powder or by attaching pellets to said connection and/or said endbands.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention said means formeasuring are for example temperature sensors. Hence it is possible tomeasure and/or monitor the temperature of the person wearing theaccessory. Typically said means for measuring will for example betemperature sensors arranged in connection with the connection band andhaving a surface in contact with the forehead of the person.

In an embodiment of the present invention said end bands and/or saidconnecting band are elastic, which makes it possible to arrange theelastic end bands in different positions and to compensate for theslight difference in position or size of the hair tails, or the size ofthe head of the individual person.

Alternatively, said connecting band is non-elastic which makes itpossible to arrange the elastic end bands in predetermined positions andalways with the same distance.

One connecting band connects two end bands and can be a chain, a pieceof foil, a strap, a string, a band, a thread, or a combination of these.For example said connecting band may be a double string or a doublestrap.

The connecting band can be made of for example a fabric (for examplewoven cloth), a plastic material, a metal material (for example gold orsilver chain links), and/or a rubber material. The important thing isthat said connecting band safely connects the at least two end bands.

To ensure a safe connection between said connecting band and said endbands each of said at least one connecting band at both ends comprisesmeans for connecting an elastic end band.

Said means for connecting an elastic end band can for example be aclasp, a fastener, a chain link, a knot or alternatively be formed bywrapping the end part of said connecting band around said end band andtying to itself.

In one embodiment of the invention the thread of the connecting band canbe invisible in order to further enhance the decoration, i.e. withoutthe thread being shown.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention said at least two elasticend bands and said at least one connecting band can be provided in onepiece.

The connecting band part can be provided along the edges with eithersnap fasteners, zippers or Velcro bands. Thus it is possible to wrap theconnecting band around the hair tail, which is arranged through the endband parts of the accessory. The one-piece accessory can be used as ahead band or a sweat band.

To be able to use said end band said at least one connecting bandcomprises means for providing elastic end bands. These means could befor example a clasp, a slider or a knot. If the means is a slider, it ispossible to change the size of the end band, and the same accessory canthus be used for different persons and/or different hair styles.

In one embodiment of the present invention said at least two elastic endbands assume the same diameters when in unstretched condition. Thismakes it possible to use any of said end bands as the first end band,for example by wrapping it around the base ponytail, and then making anumber of equally thick ponytails with the other end bands.

If it is necessary to distinguish between the different hair tails, saidat least two elastic end bands can assume different diameters when inunstretched condition. This will allow a person to create the sameadvanced hair style, with different sizes of hair tails, time aftertime.

Above, this invention has been described for use by humans, but may ofcourse also be used for dolls and animals, for example horses, dogs,cats etc.

Furthermore the accessory according to the present invention can be usedas a necklace, a bracelet for the wrist or the ankle, or as a bellychain. Especially if the connecting band and/or the end bands areprovided with some kind of decoration.

Another area of use of the accessory is as a carry and/or closing devicefor bags and carriers, hence replacing strings in bags and carriers.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to theaccompanying drawing, where

FIG. 1 shows an accessory with two end bands according to the invention,

FIG. 2 shows a person using said accessory in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 shows an accessory with three end bands according to theinvention,

FIG. 4 shows an accessory with a decoration band according to theinvention,

FIG. 5 shows an accessory with two-string connection band according tothe invention,

FIG. 6 shows a one-piece accessory according to the invention,

FIG. 7 shows a person using an accessory,

FIG. 8 shows an accessory used as a shoe lace, and

FIG. 9 shows an alternative one-piece accessory according to theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows an accessory 1 for making different hair styles comprisingtwo elastic end bands 2,3, which are connected by a connecting band 4.

FIG. 2 shows an accessory 1 used in the hair 5 of girl 6, where thefirst elastic end band 3 is wrapped around the first pony tail 8, andthe second elastic end band 2 is wrapped around the second pony tail 7,and the connecting band 4 is wrapped around and along the pony tail 8,thereby guiding it down into the pony tail 7.

FIG. 3 shows an accessory 10 for making different hair styles comprisingthree elastic end bands 11,12,13, where end bands 11,12 are connected byconnecting band 14, here illustrated as a two-string connecting band,and end bands 12,13 are connected by connecting band 15, hereillustrated as chain-link connecting band.

FIG. 4 shows an accessory 20 with string connection band 21 havingdecoration in the form of pearls 22 and an ornament 23.

FIG. 5 shows an accessory 30 with strap connection band 31 havingdecoration in the form of patterns 32.

FIG. 6 shows a one-piece accessory 40 where connection band 41 and endbands 42,43 are formed from one string 44. To provide end bands 42,43,slider 45 and clasp 46 are provided, thereby making it possible toshorten or lengthen end band 42, while end band 43 has a fixed size.Further clasps 47 are provided to keep the double-threaded string 44together.

FIG. 7 shows an accessory 50 used in the hair 5 of girl 6, where thefirst elastic end band 51 is wrapped around the first pigtail 53, andthe second elastic end band 52 is wrapped around the second pigtail 54,and the connecting band 55 runs along the girl's 6 forehead and isdecorated with patterns 55.

FIG. 8 shows an accessory 60 used as a shoe lace in a shoe 61, where theconnecting band 64 constitutes the lace and the end bands 63 areprovided with e.g. decorative charms 62 or plates with company logos.

FIG. 9 shows an alternative one-piece accessory 70, where the connectingband 71 and the end bands 72 are provided in one piece. Along its sideedges, the connecting band 71 is provided with a number of snapfasteners 73, hence making it possible to wrap the connecting band 71around a hail tail (not shown), which is arranged through the end bands72. If the accessory 70 is not provided with snap fasteners 73, it isparticularly useful as a head band.

1. Accessory (1) comprising at least two end bands (2, 3) which areconnected with at least one connecting band (4), characterised in thatsaid end bands (2, 3) and/or said connecting band (4) are provided withone or more of the following: means for decoration, means forelongating/shortening said connection band (4), means for treatment,and/or means for measuring.
 2. Accessory (1) according to claim 1,characterised in that said end bands (2, 3) and/or said connecting band(4) are elastic.
 3. Accessory (1) according to claim 1, characterised inthat said at least one connecting band (4) is a piece of foil, a chain,a strap, a string, a band and/or a thread.
 4. Accessory (70) accordingto claim 1, characterised in that said end bands (72) and saidconnecting band (71) are provided in one piece.
 5. Accessory (1)according to claim 1, characterised in that each of said at least oneconnecting band (4) at both ends comprises means for connecting an endband.
 6. Accessory (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that saidmeans for decoration are one or more of the following: pearls (22),spangles, jewelry, stones, charms (23), light diodes, and/orprinted/sewn/knitted designs or print.
 7. Accessory (1) according toclaim 1, characterised in that said means for elongating/shortening saidconnection band are one of the following: a two-part connecting bandwith interlocking Velcro pads, a string, which can be shortened bywrapping it further around the end band and be extended by unwrappingsaid string from said end band, a double string with a sliderarrangement, whereby movement of a slider (45) will increase or decreasethe length, and/or a ring-shaped connecting band with snapfasteners/clasps (46) or buttons/holes.
 8. Accessory (1) according toclaim 1, characterised in that said means for treatment are one or moreof the following: pellets/powder containing a medical agent,pellets/powder containing a preventive agent, and/or pellets/powdercontaining a insect repellent agent.
 9. Accessory (1) according to claim1, characterised in that said means for measuring are for exampletemperature sensors.
 10. Accessory (1) according to claim 1,characterised in that said end bands (2, 3) assume the same diameters.11. Accessory (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said endbands (2, 3) assume different diameters.